Welcome! I'm Cindy Santa Ana, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and Culinary Nutrition Expert. I help my clients overcome autoimmune disease and hormone balance. I use the DUTCH test, FIT test, and GI Map to uncover underlying health issues in my clients. I'm also the author of Unprocessed Living: …
FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION IS MORE THAN WHAT YOU EAT Take back your energy, your sleep, your food My approach to wellness through functional nutrition heals underlying root causes, while addressing symptoms, all from the comfort of your home.
Hello! I am so excited you're exploring a Nutritional Therapy approach to wellness and healing, you won't be disappointed! I've had the privilege of seeing friends, family, and clients lives transformed through the healing power of food and I desperately desire the same for you! Just like you, I…
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FAQs:
What is Neuromuscular Therapy?
Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is a precise, thorough examination and treatment of the body’s soft tissues using regionally oriented protocols that are taught in a step-by-step process. These time-tested, hands-on techniques are built upon a science-based foundation and guided by clinical evidence. NMT can integrate well into any practice setting and is frequently included in mainstream medicine, integrative medicine, chiropractic care, athletic settings, and multidisciplinary clinics worldwide.
Is Neuromuscular Therapy a Form of Massage?
Neuromuscular massage therapy, also called myofascial trigger point therapy or myofascial release, is a specialized form of massage that involves the application of firm, sustained, and controlled pressure over painful, taut bands of muscle, called myofascial trigger points, to release tension and facilitate blood flow.
How Effective is Neuromuscular Therapy?
NMT sessions have been proven to lessen the pain and symptoms associated with long-term ailments, such as back pain, migraines, and cramps. Beyond all the serious issues it helps with, this type of therapy is a form of massage, which means you’re guaranteed to feel a lot more relaxed afterward, with tight muscles feeling noticeably less tense for several days after the session.
What is the Difference Between Deep Tissue Massage and Neuromuscular Massage Therapy?
A deep tissue massage is a form of massage that is generally used to address muscle aches and pains associated with daily stress. Deep tissue massage is usually administered on an on-off basis whenever a client decides they need a bit of extra relaxation and rest. Neuromuscular massage techniques, on the other hand, are medical in nature. The manual therapy techniques are highly specialized and are designed to correct pain and movement dysfunction by treating trigger points, muscle adhesions, and connective tissue patterns. The problems are normally caused by a specific trauma, repetitive movements, or even bad posture. Neuromuscular massage is considered an ongoing treatment – not just something a person does whenever they feel a bit achy.
Why is NMT Different From Regular Massage?
The difference lies in specificity. Therapists who perform NMT are specially trained to use a variety of techniques that address not only the muscles but the NERVOUS system too. (hence the “neuro” part of neuromuscular therapy). General massage therapy is very effective at relaxing you and flushing blood to areas where aches and pains exist, but it doesn’t get the underlying mechanisms that created the problem to begin with, which means you’re often left with only a short-term fix. Your ongoing aches and pains involve multiple components that need to be addressed for resolution. This is where NMT shines.
Is a Neuromuscular Massage Painful?
You can expect a normal level of discomfort initially during neuromuscular therapy, it should not be painful. Be sure to communicate with your therapist throughout your treatment so that you can get the most from your neuromuscular massage.
How Often Should You Get a Neuromuscular Massage?
Most muscle spasms sometimes require multiple treatments. A common program is four massage sessions, usually over the course of two-six weeks, to achieve the best effect. If muscle spasms do not begin to respond to neuromuscular therapy within two massages, neuromuscular massage therapy may not be the best treatment option.
How Many Sessions Of Neuromuscular Therapy Will It Take Before I Feel Better?
Although the factors that affect treatment outcomes are many, it is likely you’ll know after two or three sessions of NMT whether or not this treatment approach can help you. The duration of treatment for a specific soft-tissue pain syndrome will be determined by a host of interacting factors.
- When and how did the pain/injury occur?
- Where diagnostic tests performed and what were the results?
- Is there some problem with your mattress or pillow or the number of hours you spend driving?
- What, if any, environmental or work-station factors cause or contribute to the pain syndrome?
- Are appropriate corrective stretching and strengthening exercises employed routinely to assist in the rehabilitation/prevention process?
Unless your pain syndrome was caused by an accident or overt trauma, it is highly likely that certain “lifestyle” adjustment need to be made in one or more of the areas mentioned above. I will assist you in assessing the most likely contributors to your pain syndrome, and help you make the changes necessary to get you out of pain.
Conditions that Neuromuscular Massage Therapy Can Treat
Some of the medical issues for which neuromuscular massage can be an appropriate treatment include:
- Low back pain
- Upper back pain
- Carpal tunnel-like symptoms
- Sciatica-like symptoms
- Calf cramps
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendonitis
- Knee pain
- Jaw pain
- Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ disorders)
- Hip pain
- Headaches
- Iliotibial band friction syndrome
5 Elements That May Be Causing You Pain That Neuromuscular Therapy Can Address
1. Ischemia: Lack of blood supply to soft tissues which causes hypersensitivity to touch
2. Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles which refer pain to other parts of the body
3. Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage or bone
4. Postural Distortion: Imbalance of the muscular system resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes
5. Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal system resulting in faulty movement patterns (i.e., poor lifting habits, bad mechanics in a golf swing of tennis stroke, computer keyboarding)
Neuromuscular Massage Techniques
Neuromuscular massage is a massage technique in itself. It is a type of trigger point therapy, often used during Sports Massage Therapy and Deep Tissue Massage, as well as during Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy. It can also be worked into a full body massage.
But, it’s the specificity of Neuromuscular Massage that sets it apart from more general massage techniques. Neuromuscular Massage Therapists are highly trained in muscle anatomy, connective tissue work, trigger point therapy and manual therapy; they’re expected to have an above-average knowledge of human anatomy and physiology as some consider this therapy to fall more on the medical side of massage than others.
1. Positional Release
Positional release involves the Massage Therapist putting the affected muscle into a position of ease and holding it for several seconds before releasing. This is a passive technique, also known as strain-counterstrain, that helps to release tight muscles and trigger points. It is typically performed prior to massage.
2. Palpation Release
This Neuromuscular Massage technique is what distinguishes the therapy from other types of massage; it is a skill that takes time to develop and involves the accuracy of touch. Therapists palpate muscle fibres and move their hands through the many layers of tissue accurately and without injury to the client. The therapist will begin by applying alternating amounts of pressure to the area of pain or muscle spasm and when contact is made with the point of concern, pressure will not move or vary for 10-30 seconds.
3. PNF Stretching
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a stretching technique that contracts and stretches the targeted muscle group at the same time. This is a great technique for neuromuscular conditions and is thought to be one of the most effective stretching techniques for increasing range of motion.
Benefits of Neuromuscular Massage
When Massage Therapists and other healthcare professionals utilise Neuromuscular Massage techniques, their patents receive a number of benefits beyond resolving trigger points. These include, but are not limited to:
- Reduced or elimination of pain
- Improved flexibility
- Improved range of motion
- Improved strength
- Better posture
- Improved circulation
What to Expect During a Neuromuscular Massage
Just like any other massage appointment, you will go back into the exam room and will follow your physician’s instructions. The doctor will begin by applying alternating amounts of pressure to the area of pain or muscle spasm. When contact is made with the muscle spasm, the pressure will not vary for 10-30 seconds. Many different techniques or moves depend on the location and the severity of the pain or muscle spasm.
Massage therapists spend years perfecting all these techniques. You should not perform this type of massage therapy if you do not know the proper methods. Common techniques these therapists perform are positional releases, palpation, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching, and more soft tissue techniques. The methods used will differ for each patient. Before the massage begins, your therapist will evaluate your case and make a judgment on what to perform. However, after any massage appointment, drink a lot of water and follow your therapist’s aftercare instructions. You may also feel pain and soreness after the massage, which is normal. It will fade away after a few days.
Neuromuscular massage therapy requires ongoing treatment. You cannot just come and go as people do with deep tissue or Swedish massages. Regular treatments will help your problem areas in the long run. You will feel pain and tension relief after every appointment, but it will come back. Neuromuscular massages are not for everyone. If you are extremely sensitive or have intense pain whenever you touch the areas, you will need a specialist to look further into your pain. You may need additional scans and bloodwork to truly know what your issue is. And in some cases, you may need surgery to help relieve pain. Your doctor can go into further detail about what your body needs.
When Not To Seek Neuromuscular Therapy
There are several contraindications. If you have any of the following conditions:
- Fever
- Any type of infectious disease
- Systemic infections
- Severe cold
- Fracture, bleeding, burns or other acute injury
- Blood clot
- Pregnancy-induced diabetes, toxemia, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia
- High blood pressure (unless under control with medication)
- Heart disease
- Cancer (unless prescribed or okayed by doctor)
- Open skin lesions or sores (therapist may work around them if localized)
- Prohibited by a physician
The guidelines here are pretty straightforward. You don’t want the massage to make an underlying medical condition worse, and you don’t want to pass anything contagious to the therapist. If you’re unsure about whether a minor condition should prohibit you from coming in, call your therapist before your appointment. If you have a chronic medical condition, check with your doctor before proceeding on a course of manual therapy. For some illnesses, other bodywork modalities may work well.
How to Find a Massage Therapist
Like choosing other healthcare professionals, it's important to be a conscious consumer when selecting a massage therapist. Ask your primary care provider or someone else you trust to recommend a reputable business or therapist.
Don't be afraid to ask a potential massage therapist questions such as:
- Are you licensed, certified, or registered?
- What are your training and experience?
- How many massage therapy sessions do you think I'll need?
-,What's the cost, and is it covered by health insurance?
A skilled therapist has a vast toolbox of techniques that can be incorporated based on your needs, and he or she will respond and modify these techniques based on your feedback. Massage therapy is safe and effective for people of all ages. It's not only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. It's a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are looking for a stress reliever.
Sources:
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.
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